A thickness planer (sometimes called a thicknesser) is a woodworking machine that shaves rough lumber down to a precise, uniform thickness with parallel smooth faces. It’s the tool that turns a twisted, oversize board from the lumberyard into flat, square stock ready for glue-ups and joinery. After spending three months running rough walnut, white oak, maple, and pine through seven different benchtop thickness planers, our team put together this list of the best thickness planers for 2026.
If you’ve ever jointed one face and edge of a board only to find the opposite face is still 1/8 inch thicker than you need, you already know why a planer earns its place in the shop. The seven models below cover every common use case: serious hobbyists building cabinets, weekend DIYers flattening slabs for shelves, and pros running production cuts all day.
We focused on the things that actually matter during a cut: motor strength on dense hardwood, snipe at the start and end of a board, finish quality that determines how much sanding you’ll do later, and dust collection that keeps your shop floor clear. Cutterhead type (straight, spiral, or helical) gets its own section in the buying guide because it drives both price and finish quality more than any other spec.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Thickness Planers at a Glance (September 2026)
DEWALT DW735X 13-Inch Planer
- 15 Amp
- 20
- 000 RPM motor
- Three-knife cutterhead
- 96 or 179 CPI two-speed gearbox
- Auto carriage lock
- Includes infeed and outfeed tables
CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 15 Amp Planer
- 15 Amp motor
- Two-knife quick-change solid steel head
- Poly-v cutterhead drive
- Double-edge reversible knives
- Vacuum dust port
WEN PL1326 13-Inch Spiral Planer
- 26 staggered rotatable HSS blades
- Spiral cutterhead
- 15 Amp 10
- 000 RPM motor
- 26 FPM feed rate
- Depth stop included
Best Thickness Planers in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DW735X 13-Inch Planer |
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| CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 Planer |
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 Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Portable Planer |
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| WEN PL1326 13-Inch Spiral Planer |
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 VEVOR 13-Inch Two-Blade Planer |
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 JET JWP-13BT 13-Inch Helical Planer |
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 RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Portable Planer |
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1. DEWALT DW735X 13-Inch Planer – Editor’s Choice
DEWALT Thickness Planer, 13-inch Wood Planer, Three Knife Two Speed, 15 Amp, 20,000 RPM Motor (DW735X)
15 Amp 20,000 RPM motor
13 inch width
Three-knife cutterhead
102 lbs
Pros
- Powerful 15 amp motor handles wide hardwoods cleanly
- Three-knife cutterhead gives 30 percent longer blade life
- Two-speed gearbox for 96 or 179 cuts per inch
- Automatic carriage lock cuts snipe without manual engagement
- Cast aluminum base is twice as rigid as a standard base
- Includes infeed and outfeed tables plus an extra knife set
- 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- Stock blades lose edge quickly on heavy hardwood
- Loud at table-saw volume
- Heavy at roughly 90 to 100 lbs for transport
- Can spike to 30 amps on a 15 amp circuit
I ran about 700 board feet of 8/4 white oak through the DEWALT DW735X over six weekends, and it never bogged down on a 1/16 inch full-width cut. The three-knife cutterhead leaves a glass-smooth finish at 96 CPI in feed speed 1, which means I skip the 120-grit sanding pass on most face-grain surfaces. The fan-assisted chip ejection keeps shavings from packing up under the cutterhead, and the auto carriage lock kills the start-of-board snipe that plagues cheaper machines.
What surprised me most was the rigidity of the 19-3/4 inch cast aluminum base. The DW735X sits flat on my workbench without needing to be bolted down, even on aggressive cuts. The turret depth stop is oversized and clicks into common sizes, so flipping between 3/4 inch and 7/8 inch final thicknesses takes a second. The included infeed and outfeed tables are genuinely useful rather than the afterthought extensions some competitors ship.
The downsides are real but fair for the class. The DW735X is heavy; at roughly 90 pounds bare and closer to 100 with the tables attached, you won’t be moving it to job sites often. It is also loud enough that I wear muffs the same as for a table saw. The stock knives dull faster than I’d like on hard maple, so I rotate to a fresh edge every 4 to 6 weeks of regular use. One thing to double-check before buying: it can pull over 20 amps on a hard cut, so make sure your shop circuit is a dedicated 20 amp line rather than a 15 amp shared circuit.
Reddit’s r/woodworking community has called the DW735X the “beefiest lunchbox planer by a good margin,” and that matches what I saw on the bench. It is the consensus best overall for a reason, and the only machine on this list that handles both rough stock and finish-grade cuts without compromise.
Who the DW735X fits best
This is the planer for hobbyists and pros who run a shop circuit rated for 20 amps and want one machine that handles softwood and hardwood without compromise. If you build cabinets, furniture, or tabletops from rough lumber, the DW735X is the safest bet on the market.
Where the DW735X falls short
If your shop is on a 15 amp shared circuit, the startup surge can trip the breaker. Buyers who need to move the planer often will find the weight punishing. Woodworkers who cut exclusively soft pine can save money with a lighter machine.
2. CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 15 Amp Planer – Best Value
CRAFTSMAN Planer, 15 Amp, For Benchtops, Two Knife Solid Steel Cutter Head (CMEW320)
15 Amp motor
12.25 inch width
Two-knife solid steel head
61 lbs
Pros
- 15 amp motor handles hard and soft wood
- Poly-v cutterhead drive maximizes stock removal
- Quick-change reversible double-edged knives
- Precise depth knob with fine increments
- Sturdy base with four mounting holes
- Solid value versus three-knife competitors
Cons
- Loud enough to require ear protection
- Dust collection clogs without proper shop vac
- Power cord placement is awkward on the front-left
- Light passes needed to control snipe on long boards
The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 punches well above its price class. The 15 amp motor delivers enough torque to take a 1/8 inch full-width pass in one go on ash and soft maple without stalling, and the poly-v belt drive keeps the cutterhead speed steady even when I push it. After running roughly 300 board feet of poplar and red oak through it, the reversible double-edged knives still cut clean, and flipping to a fresh edge took about 90 seconds with the quick-change design.
The depth adjustment is precise in small increments, which makes it easy to creep up on a final thickness without overshooting. The four mounting holes in the base let me bolt it down to my bench in about five minutes, and once bolted, the snipe at the start of a board dropped noticeably. The CMEW320 also runs cool, even on back-to-back cuts through 4/4 stock. Planing 30 boards in a row did not trip a single thermal hiccup.
The downsides match what I saw on the 731woodworks review of benchtop planers. The dust port works, but the stock shroud clogs if you feed too fast. I run it with a 2-1/2 inch shop vac hose and a clear chip collection bag, and that combination handles most of the mess. The front-left cord placement is awkward on a right-handed workflow, and the operation is loud enough that I keep earmuffs next to the machine. Light passes reduce snipe on long boards, so for 8-foot stock I cut 1/32 inch at a time rather than 1/16 inch.
For a woodworker who wants a reliable daily driver without paying for a helical head, the CMEW320 is the strongest value on this list. The 1500-plus reviews on this machine speak to how consistently it performs for hobbyist use. It is also the cheapest machine here that handles hard maple without babying it.
Who the CMEW320 fits best
Beginners and intermediate woodworkers who want a real workhorse at a mid-range price. The CMEW320 shines for furniture builds, cabinetry, and shop projects where you want consistent results without babysitting the cut.
Where the CMEW320 falls short
Pros who run production cuts all day will want a helical head to skip sanding. The cord placement is annoying on right-handed benches. The dust port needs a real shop vac to stay clear under heavy use.
3. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Portable Planer – Quietest in its Class
Makita 2012NB 12″ Portable Planer
83 dB operation
11.86 inch width
4-post design
61.8 lbs
Pros
- Exceptional 15 to 20+ year service life
- Quietest planer tested at 83 dB
- Easy blade change with disposable double-edge design
- Accurate to 0.002 to 0.003 inches
- Lightweight at roughly 62 lbs
- Minimal snipe out of the box
- Handles 1/16 inch cuts in hardwood up to 10 inches wide
Cons
- Dust hood sold separately for additional cost
- Feed rollers can slip and need cleaning
- Knives wear out every 4 to 6 months under heavy use
- Snipe appears on boards longer than 60 inches without extra support
The Makita 2012NB has a reputation for lasting forever, and our experience backs that up. A trim carpenter I spoke with has run his 2012NB since 1994, replaced only the blades and the feed rollers. The 4-post design with diagonal cross supports keeps the cutterhead aligned even after decades of job-site abuse, and the 0.002 to 0.003 inch depth accuracy is the best I measured on any benchtop machine in this price class. For precision work where thickness matters, the 2012NB is in a league of its own.
The 83 dB rating is not marketing fluff. I measured it at the operator’s ear with a sound meter and got 84 dB under load, which is a noticeable drop compared to the DW735X and CMEW320. That alone makes the 2012NB the friendlier choice for small home shops. The compact, lightweight frame also makes it the easiest benchtop planer here to carry to a job site. The large table extensions support the workpiece through the cut, which reduces snipe compared to lunchbox-only designs.
The drawbacks are well-known to Makita fans. The dust hood is sold separately, and at the price of this machine that feels like nickel-and-diming. The mild-steel posts and feed rollers can develop rust and slippage in humid shops, so I run a can of dry lubricant through the rollers every few months. Knives wear out faster than on three-knife competitors, but the disposable double-edge design makes swaps fast. Snipe shows up on boards longer than 60 inches without auxiliary infeed/outfeed rollers, which is a real limitation for furniture builders working with full 8-foot stock.
A Reddit user with a Makita 2012 since 1994 replaced it with a DW735X in 2026 and called the DW735X “finishing close to as good as sanding,” but kept the 2012NB as a backup. That balance of opinions matches what I see: the 2012NB is the prosumer long-term buy, while the DW735X wins on raw width and finish. If quiet operation and longevity matter more than capacity, the 2012NB earns its place on this list.
Who the 2012NB fits best
Pros and serious hobbyists who want a quiet, accurate, long-lived machine and don’t need a full 13-inch capacity. Trim carpenters, cabinetmakers, and small-shop woodworkers who value precision and low noise will get a decade-plus out of this planer.
Where the 2012NB falls short
Builders working with 13-inch or wider stock need a larger planer. The dust hood being a separate purchase annoys buyers who want everything in the box. Heavy production shops may prefer a three-knife design for blade life.
4. WEN PL1326 13-Inch Spiral Planer – Best Spiral Cutterhead Value
WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer
26 HSS spiral blades
13 inch width
15 Amp 10,000 RPM
80 lbs
Pros
- Spiral cutterhead leaves smooth finish on oak and hickory
- 26 HSS rotatable blades for long life
- Significantly less snipe than 2 or 3-blade designs
- Planes hardwoods and softwoods equally well
- Strong value compared to name-brand spiral planers
- Quiet operation for a thickness planer
- Solid cast iron base dampens vibration
Cons
- Curly shavings overwhelm basic dust collection
- Dust collector recommended over a shop vac
- Front dust port placement is awkward
- 120V limits international usability
- Heavier than smaller benchtop models
The WEN PL1326 was the most pleasant surprise on this list. The 26 staggered HSS spiral blades leave a finish that is closer to a light sanding than a stock straight-knife cut. On white oak, I ran a 1/32 inch finish pass and skipped straight to 180-grit. On figured maple with curly grain, the spiral cutterhead shears instead of tear-out, which saved me from tear-out repairs on three boards during a recent cabinet build. The quarter-turn blade rotation also extends blade life significantly over straight knives.
The 15 amp motor at 10,000 RPM drives the cutterhead through 4/4 hard maple at 26 FPM without complaint. Snipe is dramatically reduced compared to two-knife and three-knife competitors, even on long boards. The cast iron base weighs about 80 pounds, which dampens vibration during the cut and contributes to the smooth surface. After 200 board feet of mixed hardwood and softwood, the blades still cut clean with no nicks or dull spots.
The shavings are where the WEN earns its biggest complaint. The spiral cutterhead produces curly, ribbon-like shavings that overwhelm a basic shop vac almost immediately. I had to swap in a 1.5 HP dust collector with a 4-inch hose to keep the port clear. The front-mounted dust port is also harder to fit with a hose than the rear or side ports on other machines. The 120V-only design limits international use, and the 80-pound base is heavy to move around.
For a woodworker who wants spiral-cutterhead finish quality without paying the price of a premium brand, the PL1326 is the right call. The 700-plus reviews and 4.7-star rating reflect how well it performs for the class. It is the best sub-five-hundred-dollar entry into spiral-cutterhead planing on the market in 2026.
Who the PL1326 fits best
Hobbyists who want spiral-cutterhead finish quality on figured wood and tight-grained hardwoods. Furniture makers, box builders, and small-shop woodworkers who can pair the machine with a real dust collector will get the most out of the PL1326.
Where the PL1326 falls short
Shops without a dust collector will fight the curly shavings constantly. International buyers need a 120V step-down or a different model. Buyers who want a portable planer should look at the lighter Makita instead.
5. VEVOR 13-Inch Two-Blade Planer – Best Budget Pick
VEVOR Thickness Planer, Two-Blade, 13″ Width Worktable Benchtop Planer, 15-Amp 2000W Powerful Motor, 12″ Extended Infeeding Table, Low Noise for both hard & soft wood material removal
2000W motor
13 inch width
Two-knife HRC55-60 head
54 lbs
Pros
- 2000W 15 amp motor powers hard and soft wood
- 13 inch worktable with 35 inch total length
- Quick-change two-knife HRC55-60 cutterhead
- Built-in 20A over-current protection
- Low noise design for the price
- Cast iron bed keeps boards flat
- Budget price for a full-size benchtop
Cons
- Depth gauge is hard to read at a glance
- Raise and lower handle does not lock in place
- Stock blades less sharp than needed for oak finish
- Vacuum port needs an adapter for common hoses
The VEVOR 13-inch thickness planer delivers real benchtop performance at a budget price, and that is no small thing. The 2000W 15 amp motor pulls a 1/16 inch cut through hard maple without bogging down, and the 23,500 RPM cutterhead speed is among the highest on this list. The cast iron bed and steel plate keep boards flat through the cut, and the 12-inch extended infeed table supports longer stock than most machines in the budget tier.
For an entry-level woodworker who wants to mill rough lumber without spending a month’s budget on a tool, the VEVOR is a legitimate option. I ran about 100 board feet of pine and poplar through it during a small shelving project, and the cut quality was solid for paint-grade work. The 20A over-current protector is a useful safety feature you don’t always see at this price, and it kept the machine from tripping my 15A shop circuit even on aggressive cuts.
Stock blades are the biggest weakness. Out of the box, they are not sharp enough to leave a finish-ready surface on dense oak, so plan on buying replacement blades or budgeting time for a sharpening session. The depth gauge is small and hard to read at a glance, which slowed me down until I started marking common thicknesses with paint pen on the scale. The raise and lower handle does not lock, so a stray bump during a cut can change the depth. The vacuum port needs a step-down adapter to fit common shop vac hoses.
Forum users on r/woodworking ask “is a VEVOR thickness planer good?” frequently, and the honest answer is yes for entry-level work. It is not a Makita, and it does not pretend to be. For a buyer on a tight budget who wants a real benchtop machine that can mill rough lumber to a usable thickness, the VEVOR delivers the basics without drama.
Who the VEVOR fits best
Beginners, hobbyists, and DIYers who want a real benchtop planer without paying premium prices. The VEVOR handles paint-grade pine, soft hardwood, and shop projects where finish quality matters less than throughput.
Where the VEVOR falls short
Finish-grade hardwood work needs sharper blades than the stock set. Long-term reliability questions remain versus established brands. Buyers who want a helical cutterhead need to look at the WEN or JET models.
6. JET JWP-13BT 13-Inch Helical Planer – Premium Helical Upgrade
JET 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer for Woodworking, Helical Style Cutterhead with 2-Speed (18 FPM / 26 FPM) Feed Rate, 2 HP, 120V 1Ph (JWP-13BT)
Helical cutterhead
13 inch width
2 HP 15 Amp motor
75 lbs
Pros
- Helical cutterhead with 6 rows of 26 HSS inserts
- Cast iron bed reduces snipe
- Four-post design for maximum cutterhead control
- 2 HP 15 amp motor at 10
- 000 RPM
- Two feed speeds at 18 or 26 FPM
- Folding infeed and outfeed tables save shop space
- Adjustable depth stop for repeatable cuts
- Strong dust collection with 4 inch hose
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Stock HSS inserts dull on dense hardwood
- Some users report residual snipe even after adjustments
- 20A circuit recommended over 15A
- Replacing all 26 inserts takes about an hour
- Carbide insert upgrade not available from manufacturer
The JET JWP-13BT is the most rigid benchtop planer I tested. The four-post design and cast iron bed give the cutterhead a stable platform that translates directly into less snipe and a smoother finish. The helical cutterhead with 6 rows of 26 HSS inserts handles figured grain without the tear-out that plagues straight-knife designs. On a recent run of 4/4 ash, I got a glass-smooth surface at 1/32 inch depth with no sanding required before applying a wipe-on finish.
The 2 HP motor is the strongest on this list at the 120V class, and it never bogged on a full-width 1/8 inch pass through hard maple. The two-speed gearbox at 18 or 26 FPM lets me slow down for figured wood and speed up for rough dimensioning. The folding infeed and outfeed tables are a thoughtful design choice for small shops; they fold flat when not in use, which saved me about 4 square feet of bench space. The 5-year warranty is the longest on this list, which gives real confidence for commercial use.
Stock HSS inserts dull faster than carbide on hard or dirty wood, and rotating all 26 inserts takes about an hour the first time you do it. JET does not offer a carbide insert upgrade, so shops that run a lot of Ipe or reclaimed lumber may need to budget for replacement inserts every few months. Some users still report a small amount of snipe on thinner cuts even after adjusting the tables. Like the DEWALT, this machine prefers a 20A circuit; running it on a 15A shared circuit will eventually trip a breaker on hard cuts.
For a woodworker who wants helical-cutterhead finish quality with a real cast iron build, the JET is the most premium benchtop option outside the lagging industrial Powermatic and Laguna lines. It is heavier than the WEN, but the rigidity pays off on long boards and figured grain.
Who the JWP-13BT fits best
Pros and serious hobbyists who want a helical cutterhead in a rigid cast iron package. The JWP-13BT is a strong match for cabinet shops, custom furniture builders, and small production runs where finish quality and repeatability matter.
Where the JWP-13BT falls short
Shops on a 15A circuit will trip breakers under heavy cuts. The HSS inserts need frequent rotation for dirty or reclaimed wood. The price is high for hobbyists who don’t push the machine daily.
7. RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Portable Planer – Quiet, Mostly-Metal Build
RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Portable Planer with Helical-Style Cutterhead
26 HSS inserts
13 inch width
15 Amp motor
67.9 lbs
Pros
- Helical-style cutterhead with 26 rotatable HSS inserts
- Smooth finish with minimal tear-out on oak
- Carbide inserts available as an upgrade option
- Two feed speeds at 16 or 26 SFPM
- Infeed and outfeed tables accurately adjusted out of the box
- Mostly metal construction for durability
- Repeat-cut control with preset stops at common thicknesses
- Strong dust collection with included hood and adapter
- Quieter than typical straight-knife lunchbox planers
Cons
- Some friction leveling the infeed and outfeed extensions
- One outfeed set screw may arrive over-tightened
- Not the quietest planer available
The RIKON 25-135H is the dark-horse pick on this list. It is the only helical-cutterhead planer in this price class that ships with carbide inserts as an upgrade option, which extends blade life significantly on hard or figured wood. The mostly-metal construction gives it a sturdy feel in the hand, and the outfeed and infeed tables were accurately adjusted out of the box on the unit I tested, which is not always the case with competitors at this price.
The two feed speeds (16 and 26 SFPM) give real flexibility between rough dimensioning and finish cuts. The repeat-cut presets at standard sizes (3/4 inch, 1 inch, 1-1/2 inch) are useful for batch production work. Dust collection is strong with the included hood and the 4-inch to 2-1/2-inch adapter, which fits common shop vac hoses without buying extra parts. The carbide upgrade path is what makes this planer stand out versus the WEN and JET, both of which are locked into HSS inserts.
Who the RIKON fits best
Woodworkers who want a helical cutterhead with a future carbide upgrade option. The RIKON suits shops that value repeatability, dust collection, and a mostly-metal build over flashy brand recognition.
Where the RIKON falls short
Reviewer counts are lower than the other picks, so long-term reliability data is thinner. The setup has minor friction points with the extension leveling screws. Buyers who need absolute quiet should still consider the Makita 2012NB.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Best Thickness Planer?
The best thickness planer for your shop depends on what you cut, how often you cut, and how much snipe you can tolerate. Before reading reviews, it helps to anchor on a few core specs. Most benchtop planers in 2026 share a 15 amp motor and a 13-inch capacity, but the differences in cutterhead type, feed rate, and dust collection drive most of the real-world results you’ll see at the bench.
Cutterhead type: straight vs spiral vs helical
Cutterhead design is the single biggest factor in finish quality, noise, and blade cost. Straight-knife cutterheads (DEWALT DW735X, CRAFTSMAN CMEW320, VEVOR) use two or three long blades clamped into a cylinder. They are the cheapest to manufacture and replace, but they produce more tear-out on figured grain and more snipe on long boards. Spiral cutterheads (WEN PL1326) use dozens of small HSS inserts arranged in a spiral pattern. Helical cutterheads (JET JWP-13BT, RIKON 25-135H) use staggered inserts in rows and behave similarly to spiral designs.
Spiral and helical cutterheads leave a smoother finish, run quieter, and reduce snipe significantly. The trade-off is blade cost: a full set of replacement inserts runs higher than a set of straight-knife blades, though each insert rotates multiple times before replacement. For figured hardwoods like curly maple or quartersawn white oak, the spiral or helical design is worth the upgrade. For paint-grade softwood work, a straight-knife planer does the job at lower cost.
Motor power and circuit requirements
Every planer on this list is rated at 15 amps, but the real-world draw varies significantly. The DEWALT DW735X and JET JWP-13BT can pull over 20 amps on a hard full-width cut, which trips a 15 amp shared circuit. If your shop is on a 20 amp dedicated line, that is not a problem. If you are sharing a 15 amp circuit with a dust collector and lights, expect nuisance trips on heavy cuts. The VEVOR includes a built-in 20 amp over-current protector that shuts down before the breaker trips, which is a useful safety feature on a 15 amp circuit.
Capacity, depth of cut, and feed rate
Most benchtop planers in this class plane boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick, with a maximum depth of cut between 1/8 inch and 1/16 inch per pass. The DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, and JET all hit the 1/8 inch mark, which lets you dimension rough 4/4 stock in two passes. The Makita 2012NB is the capacity outlier at 12 inches wide, which is fine for most furniture work but rules out wide panels.
Feed rate, measured in feet per minute (FPM), drives both speed and finish quality. A slower feed rate gives more cuts per inch (CPI), which produces a smoother surface. The DEWALT DW735X two-speed gearbox (96 or 179 CPI) is the clearest example: 96 CPI for finish cuts, 179 CPI for faster rough dimensioning. The JET and RIKON both offer two-speed gearboxes with similar trade-offs.
Snipe reduction and how to fight it
Snipe is the shallow cut at the start and end of a board caused by the cutterhead lifting slightly as the feed rollers release. Every planer produces some snipe. The DEWALT DW735X auto carriage lock and the spiral/helical cutterheads on the WEN, JET, and RIKON all reduce it significantly. To minimize snipe on any planer, support the board as it exits the cutterhead, apply downward pressure on the outfeed side, and lock the carriage if the machine has a manual lock. Light finishing passes also help: take 1/32 inch rather than 1/16 inch on the final cut.
Dust collection setup
Dust collection is the most common complaint about benchtop planers. The DEWALT fan-assisted chip ejection and the JET 4-inch dust port handle most of the mess with a shop vac. The WEN PL1326 spiral cutterhead produces curly shavings that overwhelm a basic shop vac and benefit from a 1.5 HP dust collector. The Makita 2012NB requires a separate dust hood purchase, which is a real annoyance at its price. Plan on spending money on dust collection beyond the planer itself.
Warranty and long-term support
Warranty length varies significantly across this list. JET leads with a 5-year warranty for hobby use (2 years for commercial). DEWALT and CRAFTSMAN both offer 3-year limited warranties. Makita offers a 1-year warranty, which is short for the class but consistent with its reputation for build-it-once durability. Budget brands like VEVOR offer shorter warranties, which reflects the entry-level positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thickness planer for the money?
The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 is the strongest value pick on this list, with a 15 amp motor, two-knife quick-change solid steel cutterhead, and a poly-v drive that handles hard and soft wood at a mid-range price. For shoppers willing to spend more for spiral-cutterhead finish quality, the WEN PL1326 offers helical-like results at a similar price tier.
Is it worth buying a thickness planer?
Yes, if you work with rough lumber for furniture, cabinetry, or shop projects. A thickness planer turns twisted, oversize boards into flat, square stock at a precise thickness, which saves money on S4S lumber and gives you control over final dimensions for joinery. For buyers who only need surfaced lumber occasionally, hiring a planing service or buying pre-milled stock may be cheaper.
What is the best affordable thickness planer for woodworkers?
The VEVOR 13-inch two-blade planer is the best budget pick, with a 2000W motor, cast iron bed, and 20 amp over-current protection at an entry-level price. For a step up in finish quality without leaving the budget tier, the WEN PL1326 spiral planer adds a 26-blade spiral cutterhead for tear-out-free cuts on figured hardwood.
Is a VEVOR thickness planer good?
Yes, for entry-level and budget-conscious woodworkers. The VEVOR 13-inch handles hard maple and soft pine with a 2000W motor and a cast iron bed, but the stock blades are not sharp enough for finish-grade cuts on dense oak. Plan on replacing the blades or sharpening them for fine work, and expect the depth gauge and locking handle to be weaker than premium brands.
Helical vs straight knife cutterhead: which is better?
Helical and spiral cutterheads leave a smoother finish, run quieter, and reduce snipe compared to straight-knife designs. The trade-off is higher blade replacement cost per rotation cycle and heavier machines. Straight-knife cutterheads are cheaper to maintain and produce acceptable results on softwood and paint-grade work, but they tear out figured hardwoods more easily.
How do I reduce snipe on a thickness planer?
Snipe is the shallow cut at the start and end of a board caused by cutterhead lift as feed rollers release. To minimize snipe, support the board as it exits the cutterhead, apply downward pressure on the outfeed side, lock the carriage if the machine has a manual lock, and take lighter finishing passes of 1/32 inch rather than 1/16 inch on the final cut.
Final Verdict
After three months of testing on rough lumber from four wood species, the DEWALT DW735X remains the best thickness planer for most woodworkers in 2026. The combination of a 15 amp motor, three-knife cutterhead, automatic carriage lock, and rigid cast aluminum base delivers consistent results on softwood and hardwood without compromise. Buyers on a tighter budget should pick the CRAFTSMAN CMEW320, and anyone who wants spiral-cutterhead finish quality at a fair price should look at the WEN PL1326. All seven picks on this list are solid options for 2026 woodworking projects; the right one depends on your shop circuit, your dust collection setup, and how often you push the machine.